Law Enforcement Against Vietnamese-Flagged Foreign Vessels In Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone: A Case Study Of The North Natuna Sea

Abstract

Law enforcement in the Exclusive Economic Zone is a manifestation of the sovereign rights of coastal states as stipulated in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which has been ratified by Indonesia through Law Number 17 of 1985. As an archipelagic country, Indonesia has a strategic interest in protecting and managing marine resources, including through cracking down on foreign vessels that commit violations in the Exclusive Economic Zone. This study aims to analyze the regulation of Indonesia's authority in law enforcement against foreign ships and examine its implementation of Vietnamese-flagged ships in the North Natuna Sea and its legal constraints. The research method used is normative juridical with a statutory and conceptual approach. The results of the study show that Indonesia has a strong legal foundation based on  the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982 and national regulations in the field of marine and fisheries. However, in practice, law enforcement still faces obstacles in the form of different perceptions of maritime boundaries, limited operational facilities, and bilateral diplomatic implications. Inter-agency synergy and strengthening operational and diplomatic strategies are needed to increase the effectiveness of protecting Indonesia's marine resources.